A proposed change in an American maritime safety law could open the Virgin Islands’ yacht tourism sector to a new wave of competition from the United States VI, industry observers said.
USVI-based yachts would be more likely to buy food and supplies as well as obtain repairs there, threatening to drain millions from this territory’s economy, industry observers said.
Others believe that because this territory’s yachting facilities are better developed and the VI is generally seen as a safer destination, crewed yachts will continue to base themselves here in spite of the US law.
The 1993 Passenger Vessel Safety Act that created the six passenger maximum in the US is widely seen as having prompted dozens of crewed yachts, many of which are capable of carrying eight passengers or more, to leave the USVI for here. Therefore the development is being watched closely here, Ruth Ross, chairwomanof the BVI Charter Yacht Society, said Tuesday.
“I think there’s no doubt that it could have an impact,” she said. “The fact that there was such a thriving fleet in the USVI back in the day and they lost it, I think it proves that the fleet can move.”
According to statistics maintained by the society, 137 crewed yachts — boats that feature a full-time captain and crew — are permanently based in this territory. The VI is also home to another 800 “bareboat” yachts that are rented privately by vacationers but won’t be affected by the change because they aren’t considered commercially captained vessels, industry observers said.
See the April 10, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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